WHAT IS A SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCATE?
The Council of parents, attorneys and advocates (copaa) defines SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCATES as COMMITTED PROFESSIONALS WHO HELP PARENTS SECURE A FREE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. ADVOCATES PROMOTE DIGNITY AND RESPECT FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL WITH DISABILITIES BY PROMOTING VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT OF STATE AND FEDERAL CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS.
A special education advocate is dedicated to assisting parents in making sense of all the complicated legal and educational information discussed throughout the special education process. A child’s special education record is full of many documents that may hold the key to how to help a child make meaningful progress towards their educational goals. A special education advocate provides parents with expertise in interpreting these documents to tease out the essentials and to negotiate with the child study team to develop an appropriate plan based upon a child’s INDIVIDUAL needs. Advocates level the playing field during meetings with the school district to plan a child’s education. Often children are denied a Free and Appropriate Public Education and families feel helpless and unsure of how to secure the appropriate services for their child. An advocate can assist in determining what the district is required to provide to allow your child to make meaningful progress towards their goals in the least restrictive environment.
Advocate Voluntary Code Of Ethics:
Advocacy 4 Education serves in the role of non-attorney educational advocate. We VOLUNTARILY subscribe to this Code and use the Code’s ethical principles as a guide for proper professional conduct. (This Code does not create disciplinary rules, and is not intended to be used to sanction Advocates.)
This Voluntary Code is intended to accomplish the following:
a. Serve as an Advocate’s guide to professional conduct.
b. Help parents make informed choices about engaging advocacy services.
c. Instill public confidence in the integrity of Advocates and the roles they fill.
The Voluntary Code of Ethics focuses on 5 Key Areas: Competence, Responsibilities to Client, Conflicts of Interest, Communication, and Professionalism.